Vote To Censure 2nd District Councilmember Jeannine Pearce
Slated For Tuesday’s Long Beach City Council Meeting
Long Beach City Councilmembers Al Austin, Suzie Price, Daryl Supernaw and Dee Andrews have placed an item on next week’s May 22 council agenda recommending that 2nd District Councilmember Jeannine Pearce be censured “for her conduct as a member of the City Council that has reflected poorly on the City of Long Beach and raises questions of potential sexual harassment, conflict of interest and failure to adhere to the City’s Code of Ethics.” Censuring is an official method of discipline for elected officials. The documentation attached to the agenda item indicates numerous reasons to censure Pearce, including that she hired Devin Cotter to be her chief of staff while she was engaged in a romantic relationship with him, thereby exposing the city to “significant risk for potential sexual harassment and conflict of interest” related issues. The city attorney had to negotiate an agreement with Cotter to terminate his employment in December 2016. Pearce and Cotter were involved in a conflict that required response by the Long Beach Police Department in June 2017, which put the integrity of LBPD at risk when allegations of preferential treatment were made, according to the document. Finally, the document cites the recent revelation that State Attorney General Xavier Becerra is investigating Pearce for misuse of public resources for political purposes as a reason for censure. The last time a councilmember was censured by the council was in 1993.
Long Beach Unemployment Rate Drops To 4.1%
Long Beach’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% in April, down from 4.2% in March, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department. Los Angeles County’s unemployment rate in April was 4.4%, and the statewide unemployment rate was 4.2%. According to an EDD press release, the largest increase in jobs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan area occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 3,500 jobs.
Property Tax Reform Initiative Eligible For November Ballot
It was announced today that the Tax Transfer Initiative (Proposition 13), a ballot measure that would reform property tax regulations for seniors, those with disabilities and natural disaster victims, is eligible for the November ballot. The Homeowners for Families and Tax Savings for Seniors Committee, sponsored by the California Association of Realtors (CAR), issued the follow statement from initiative sponsor and CAR President Steve White: “[CAR] and California voters believe that homeowners who are seniors, disabled, victims of disasters, and homeowners living on contaminated property deserve the opportunity to move to safer, more practical homes without being penalized. Our goal to provide property tax fairness is within sight . . . We have the resources and grass roots strength to eliminate the property tax moving penalty, strengthen neighborhoods and improve housing opportunities for all Californians,”
City Of Long Beach To Receive Four American Planning Association Awards
The American Planning Association is slated to recognize four Long Beach planning programs at a reception on June 7 with the following awards: Innovation in Green Community Planning; Award of Excellence in Public Outreach; Award of Excellence in Urban Design; and the Award of Excellence in Communications Initiative. These award honors initiatives that promote a sustainable community with a better quality of life, including an urban farming program, a plan to enhance open spaces in Uptown Long Beach, the creation of Gumbiner Park, and a Long Beach Development Services communication initiative.